Boryspil Airport and Lviv Danylo Halytskyi Airport are the first airports that may open for passenger traffic in Ukraine. Bohdan Dolintse, an expert on aviation market development, told Kommersant Ukrainsky 
in an exclusive commentary. When and under what conditions will Ukrainians be able to fly to other countries without crossing the border – read in the exclusive article of Kommersant Ukra inskiy
Why not Uzhhorod?
Last year, most Ukrainian airports declared their technical soundness and readiness to resume operations, but the most important condition for opening air traffic is safety. That is why experts discussed the opening of airports in Uzhhorod, Kyiv and Lviv. However, Uzhhorod Airport does not meet a number of criteria, said Bohdan Dolintse.
“This airport is able to accommodate a limited number of aircraft, so it is not very attractive for the majority of both Ukrainian and European air carriers. As a rule, these are small planes with low passenger traffic, and this, of course, will lead to the fact that the cost of a seat on such aircraft is one and a half to two times more expensive than, for example, on a Boeing 737 or Airbus A320,”
– said the expert.
In addition, Uzhhorod airport has a rather neglected passenger infrastructure and terminal complex.
Kyiv or Lviv?
On the contrary, Kyiv and Lviv airports have well-developed modern infrastructure and runways that can accommodate the main types of aircraft used by Ukrainian and European carriers.
“Also, these airports can be fairly well protected by existing air defence systems, and this will give additional points when assessing their security level. Therefore, I am still inclined to believe that it can be either Boryspil Airport or Lviv Airport, with a lower probability – Zhulyany Airport,”
– explained Bohdan Dolince.
However, the expert is most inclined to open the airport in Lviv.
“Given the passenger traffic and the possibility that passengers will not be afraid to fly, I think that it will be an airport in Lviv first and Kyiv second,”
– he emphasised.
When airports in Ukraine can open
The readiness of airports to open is not the first issue to be addressed. The main thing is safety. And it is in this area that a large number of unresolved issues remain, which is why Ukraine has started negotiations with EU and US regulators, as previously announced by Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for Recovery and Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development .
“Ukraine has already gathered information on the state of infrastructure, the ability to ensure flight safety at each airport that is being considered for reopening, including information on the available air defence forces and means of protection against weapons that may be or are already being used against Ukraine. All this information is provided to two key regulators – the FAA (US Federal Aviation Administration) and EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency), which can grant permission or prohibit flights to Ukraine to their airlines under their supervision.”
Based on the results of their analysis, a conclusion will be given – when, under what conditions and from which airport in Ukraine flights will be opened.
“Their conclusions can be given in a few months or a year, there are no clear deadlines. Moreover, they can ban flights altogether or provide recommendations that Ukraine must implement before opening flights.”
The full opening of Ukraine’s airspace is out of the question, as most airports are located within a short distance of the weapons of destruction.
Author: Alyona Kaplina